Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Walnut Cream Cheese Spread


The beauty of having a container garden is that I am never overrun with any particular thing. In fact, I have been known to sit outside in a wicker chair, staring at the tomatoes, daring them to ripen. This past week I brought in a single tomato every day, and was fine with that. I also brought in four hefty cucumbers, two of which I gave to my number two son, who has already turned them into pickles. The other two I decided to use in fresh cucumber sandwiches. I have used cucumbers in veggie sandwiches before, but never made a sandwich where they were featured. I have been told that some of the best cucumber sandwiches contain cucumbers, slices of red onion, and cream cheese. I decided to take that up a notch by making my own bread (there is no better time of the year to proof bread outdoors than in humid, 90° mid summer heat), and make Walnut Cream Cheese.
Thai basil and cucumbers were harvested today.
First of all, let me tell you, this cream cheese is so good that I had to hide it from myself in the back of the fridge. Had I not, there wouldn’t have been enough to make the sandwich. Second, nothing beats homemade bread for a tasty sandwich. Mr. O-P used to favor sandwiches made with dense, chewy bread. I like that as well, but, when it comes to something as delicate as a cucumber, I need bread that’s going to be a bit softer without skimping on taste.

This is a delightful combination! You can remove the crust from the bread, and cut the sandwiches into triangles, rectangles, small squares, or heck, get fancy-schmancy and use a round biscuit cutter and cut out rounds. I wasn’t making this to serve with tea, I was making it to munch on during some tense innings of the ball game, so I left the crusts on. Sometimes, I like to take a walk on the wild side.

Try this sandwich, but even if you don’t, you must (I
absolutely insist!) try this Walnut Cream Dheese. It is superb accompanied by grapes (Shown here with Melissa’s wonderfully sweet and juicy Champagne Grapes -- an excellent pairing.), or slices of apple. Delish!
Walnut Cream Cheese Spread
Adapted from Taste of Home

12 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
2 T. minced fresh parsley
1 T. finely minced green pepper
2 T. minced scallions
1 t. fresh lemon juice
¼ t. freshly grated nutmeg
6-8 gratings from
Melissa’s Lemon Pepper Grinder
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Place all ingredients into a medium mixing bowl and beat until creamy. Place in an airtight container (I like
these.) and refrigerate overnight to meld flavors.

Another versatile cream cheese spread that is good either hot or cold is Olive Cheese Spread.



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3 comments:

bj said...

I love little cucumber sandwiches...and cream cheese. yum
I am saving this recipe to use later...it sure sounds wonderful

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I love walnuts so I know I'd like this spread! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

What a delicious looking sandwich! Loving that yummy cream cheese spread too. Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Whimsical Wednesdays Link Party!